A sampler design by Craftwise.

A delightful, small alphabet stitched by Harriet Househam. This kit would be ideal for a beginner or as a small present.

Size: 5¾ x 3½ ins (14.5 x 9 cm)

At just 13.5 x 9.5 cm, it is easily the smallest sampler in the Bakewell collection, and is very small compared with the majority of 18th and 19th century samplers. It only uses one colour of stitch, which is unusual,  although it shares this characteristic with at least one of the other Bakewell samplers (The Elizabeth Oldershaw sampler, also available in the Old House Museum series). The size suggests that the stitcher must have been quite young, but the quality of the work is generally good.

The comprehensive genealogical database compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City Utah records just one Harriet Househam between the dates of 1820 and 1900.The details come from the British Census of 1881 which records a Househam family living in Moss Brow in Cheshire. Thomas and Mary Househam have two children – Harriet, aged 8 and her sister Fanney, aged 6. Could this be a record of the creator of this delightful sampler?

Here the original piece is pictured below the adapted piece for stitching.